Manual valve override

ABSTRACT

Valves for controlling fluid flow known to the prior art have included various means for selective remote control in the event of failure of the primary power drive for the valve and in general these devices have utilized a separate control to engage and disengage a manual control while at the same time disconnecting a power control. The invention provides a cam member fixed to a drive shaft for manual control of the valve. The cam member has a surface disposed obliquely with respect to the axis of the drive shaft and angular indexing of the drive shaft without other movement provides for urging the drive shaft either into or out of engagement with another drive member.

United States Patent [1 1 Am et a1.

[ MANUAL VALVE OVERRIDE [75] Inventors: Fred A. Arn, Rockville; WilliamJ.

Dowicki, Vernon; Howard E. Pierce, Watertown, all of Conn.

[73] Assignee: Contromatics Corporation,

Rockville, Conn.

22 Filed: May 25,1973

21 Appl.No.: 364,140

[52] US. Cl 251/14, 251/58, 74/625 [451 Apr. 2, 1974- PrimaryExaminerHenry T. Klinksiek [57] I ABSTRACT Valves for controlling fluidflow known to the prior art have included various means for selectiveremote control in the event of failure of the primary power drive forthe valve and in general these devices have utilized a separate controlto engage and disengage a manual control while at the same timedisconnecting a power control. The invention provides a cam member fixedto a drive shaft for manual control of the valve. The cam member has asurface disposed obliquely with respect to the axis of the drive shaftand angular indexing of the drive shaft without other movement providesfor urging the drive shaft either into or out of engagement with anotherdrive member.

7 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure 1 MANUAL VALVE OVERRIDE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION Valves having both an automatic or power driven mode ofoperation as well as a manual mode of operation are well known in theart. It is desirable to provide means for driving many valves manuallyin the event of failure of the hydraulic, pneumatic or electricalpowered means by which they are conventionally driven. The mechanismsthat have been typically used often necessitate a separate control fordisengaging the power driven mechanism and engaging a manual drivemechanism. Such structures are relatively complicated to build as wellas being more difficult to operate because of the second controlrequired. Many such devices require a substantial amount of torque foroperation manually because of the retarding effect of the poweringmechanism. Because of the high torque and also the two discrete controlssuch devices have not been readily suitable for remote operation asmaybe encountered in naval or other applications where it is desirable tohave a manual override in the event of failure of the electrical,pneumatic or hydraulic means which normally operate a valve which isinaccessible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention contemplates a valve having ahousing having a flow passage therethrough and a flow restricting membermounted on a pivotally-mounted axle for selective movement between flowobstructing and flow passing positions. The valve further includes adrive shaft carried by the housing for rotation and axial movement andhaving means for engaging and driving the axle at a first end of thedrive shaft. Means are provided for rotating the drive shaft at a secondend of the driveshaft and this means may be a simple handle. Means forselectively engaging and disengaging the drive shaft from drivingengagement with the axle comprising means for axially displacing thedrive shaft'from a first position where the drive shaft engages the axleto a second position where the drive shaft is disengaged from the axle.The means for axially displacing the drive shaft is responsive torotation of the drive shaft.

Most commonly, the means for axially displacing the drive shaftcomprises a cam member carried on the drive shaft in generallytransverse relationship, the member has a generally planar surfacethereof within a plane at an oblique angle with respect to the axis ofthe drive shaft and the generally planar surface has a first point and asecond point in axially and radially spaced relationship. The firstpoint is further from the first end of the shaft than the second pointmeasured in an axial direction. The means for axially displacing thedrive shaft ordinarily will also include standoff means supported by thevalve housing and being selectively alignable with and between the firstpoint on the planar surface of the cam member and the valve housing. Thestandoff means is also selectively alignable with and between the secondpoint on the planar surface of the cam member and the valve housing. Thestandoff means when positioned against the first point urges the driveshaft into the first position wherein the first end of the drive shaftis in driving engagement with the axle. The standoff means comprisesnormally a disc rotatably carried on the drive shaft having one facethereof abutting the valve housing and the opposite face thereof havingan upstanding portion engaging the planar surface of the cam member.Means are provided for biasing the drive shaft axially toward theupstanding portion engaging the planar face of the cam member to providepositive engagement between the planar surface and the upstandingportion engaging the planar face of the cam member. The upstandingportion engaging the planar face of the cam member may include a ballrotatably carried for rolling engagement with the planar surface.

Detent means may be provided to restrain the rotational movement of thedisc about the drive shaft comprising a conventional ball detentstructure. The valve may also include a double acting piston andcylinder means having first and second fluid connection ports in fluidcommunication withopposite sides of the piston and a separate pressureequalization valve may be connected to the first and second fluidconnection ports together with means for opening the pressureequalization valve when the drive shaft is in the first position wherebypressure is equalized across the piston and no net forces are imposed onthe axle thereby.

The objects of the invention include provision for a valve having dualcontrol modes which may be manual and another which may be eitherhydraulic, pneumatic or electrical.

It is another object of the invention to provide a valve overrideresponsive purely to a single control such as a single handle which isrotated to produce both the movement of the valve as well as thefunction of disconnecting the alternate power source.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a manual valveoverride which avoids the retarding effect of the powering mechanism toreduce the amount of torque required. I

i It is still another object of the invention to provide apparatus whichis suitable for operating the valve manually from a location remote fromthe valve body.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide apparatus which issimple and easy to construct and operate.

Still other objects, features and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of thefollowing detailed description of a preferred embodiment, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like referencenumerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the severalviews.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a sectional, axial view of avalve in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT are provided to directpressure to alternate sides of the piston 20. Seal 23 is provided toprevent leakage between the cylinder 14 and the head 17. A sea] 25 isprovided to prevent leakage in a similar manner between cylinder 14 andthe valve body 12.

A piston 20 carried within the cylinder 14 is provided withcircumferential grooves (not shown) for carrying seals 22, 24. Fixed tothe piston is an elongated piston rod 26 which extends into the firstchamber 16 through a passageway 28 in aligned relationship. Within thepassageway 28 is a groove 30 which holds a seal 32 adapted for sealingcircumferentially the piston rod as it moves axially within thepassageway 28. The righthand end of the piston rod 26, as viewed, isguided for axial movement by a bushing 34.

Pivotally connected to the piston rod 26 is a crank arm 36 which isconnected to the piston rod 26 by a pin 38. Thecrank arm 36 rotates withan axle 40 to which it is connected by splines 42, 42. The axle 40carries a butterfly, ball or other flow obstructing member (not shown)which is contained within a flow passage (notv shown). A stop 44 iscarried by the valve body 12 within a threaded aperture 46 and fixed inplace by nut 48.

A gear 50 is connected by a key 52 to crank arm 36 for rotationalmovement with the crank arm and axle 40. The periphery of gear 50 isdisposed in engagement with the smaller diameter portion 52 of a steppedgear 54. The stepped gear 54 is carried on a shaft 55 which is fixed toa valve body 12. A larger diameter portion 56 engages another steppedgear 58 having a smaller diameter spur gear portion 60 in engagementwith stepped gear 54 and a larger diameter bevelled gear portion 62.Stepped gear 58 is carried radially on a shaft 64 fixed to the valvebody 12. A

A second bevelled gear 66 is shown in the engaged position with bevelledgear portion 62. In accordance with the invention bevelled gear 66 maybe selectively moved to the right as shown but of engagement withbevelled gear portion 62. Bevelled gear 66 is carried on a drive shaft68 which is supported for rotation by bushings 70, 72 carried by thevalve body 12. Angular spring biasing (not shown) is provided betweendrive shaft 68 and bevelled gear 66 whereby the latter will moveangularly in the event the crests of the bevelled gear 66 and bevelledgear portion 62contact as the teeth thereof'mesh. Fixed to the driveshaft 68 by a pin 74 is a cam member 76 having a generally planarsurface 78 which is disposed within a plane at an oblique angle withrespect to the axis of the drive shaft. A projecting stop member 79 isfixed to the cam member 76 at a radial distance from the drive shaft 68.A spring 77' is carried on drive shaft 68 between cam member 76 andbushing 70 to axially bias drive shaft 68 to the right as viewed.

A standoff 80 is provided to maintain the clearance between generallyplanar surface 78 and the wall of second chamber 18. The standoffcomprises a disc 82 carried by a bushing 84 for free rotation aboutdrive shaft 68. A post 86 projects from one face of the disc 82 andcarries a ball 88 in rotatable relation thereto. The radial distancefrom the axis of the drive shaft to the ball 88 centerline is equal tothe radialdistance from the axis of the drive shaft to the centerline ofthe projecting stop member 79 which is carried by the cam member 76 andprojects from the generally planar surface 78.

A ball detent assembly 90 comprises a ball 92 and spring 94 containedwithin a recess 96 within second chamber 18. Disposed at intervals aboutthe disc 82 are a plurality of depressions 98 (one shown) to provide thedesired retarding action on the rotation of standoff about drive shaft68.

A plate 100 is fixed to the drive shaft 68 by suitable means (notshown). A portion of the plateis in contact with a plunger 102 of apressure equalization valve 104. Axial movement of the plate 100 againstthe plunger 102 causes the pressure equalization valve 104 to open orclose. In the position shown, the pressure equalization valve is openedand suitable connections are provided between the two ports of pressureequalization valve 104 and the cylinder ports 19 and 21 whereby when theplate 100 is in the position shown the pressure at ports 19 and 21 isequalized by placing the two ports in fluid communication. Also fixed tothe drive shaft 68 is a hand wheel 106 for manual operation of thevalve.

In operation, axial movement of drive shaft 68 is achieved by means ofthe camming action of generally planar surface 78 against the standoff80. Rotation of the hand wheel 106 for three hundred and=sixty degreesor more clockwise causes stop 79 on cam member 76 to strike the side ofthe ball 88 which causes the standoff assembly 80 to rotatesnychronously with the drive shaft 68 despite the action of the detentassembly 90. More specifically, the detent assembly'will be forced toslip upon the application of torque through the hand wheel 1.06.Movement of the drive shaft in this manner will act through bevelledgear 66 and the remaining portions of the drive train to rotate axle 40and position the ball, butterfly or other flow obstructing member withinthe flow passage of the valve.

Rotation of the hand wheel 106 one hundred and eighty degreescounterclockwise from the last position noted above positions the wideend of the cam member 76 away from the ball 88. The ball 88 is held inplace together with the remaining portions of the standoff assembly 80by the detent assembly 90. With the narrow end of the cam member 76accordingly positioned adjacent to the ball 88 the spring 77 will causethe shaft 68 and gear 66 fixed thereto to move to the right as viewedout of engagement with the gear train and accordingly out of drivingrelationship with the axle 40.

Various alternates will be apparent to those skilled in the art whichmay include a change in direction of the spring bias and an associatedchange in the angle of the oblique plane. Also, the dual operation shownin the preferred embodiment is not necessarily hydraulic or pneumaticcombined with manual but may also be electrical though combined withhydraulic or any of various other combinations. Particularly, with anelectric motor drive it is particularly convenient to step the driveshaft 68 to provide the necessary indexing of the cam member 76 withrespect to the standoff assembly 80. Similarly, the manner of engagementbetween the drive shaft 68 and the axle 40 is not necessarily by meansof gears and particularly bevelled gears, but also may be accomplishedby means of a clutch utilizing friction or other suitable means. A yokeis particularly conveniently operated by the drive shaft 68 to connectand disconnect the frictionally engaged surfaces in this form. It willbe understood by those skilled in the art that a cam plate may beutilized together with a standoff which is manually controlled by meanswhich are independent from the hand wheel 106 without departing from theinvention. it will also be understood that the invention may haveapplication to structures other than valves and particularly to thosewhere dual mean of driving various apparatus may be required.

It will be seen by those skilled in the art that a valve in accordancewith the invention provides for dual control and that in the event ofmanual control of the valve the operation requires a minimum amount oftorque because drag created by a power source is eliminated. It isfurther evident that the valve of the invention is readily adaptable toremote operation because it is not necessary to provide separate driveconnections to two separate controls as is commonly required. Instead,it is merely necessary to have a single, rotatably mounted driveprovided to the valve in the event the hydraulic, pneumatic orelectrical power drive becomes inoperative. it is also apparent that thevalve as described is simple to operate and to construct.

What is claimed is:

1. In a valve having a housing having a flow passage therethrough and aflow restricting member mounted on a pivotally mounted axle forselective movement between flow obstructing and flow passing positions,the improvement which includes:

a. a drive shaft carried by the housing for rotation and axial movementand having means for engaging and driving the axle at a first end ofsaid drive shaft;

b. means for rotating said drive shaft at a second end .of said driveshaft; and i c. means for selectively engaging and disengaging saiddrive shaft from driving engagement with said axle comprising means foraxially displacing said drive shaft from a first position where saiddrive shaft engages said axle to a second position where said driveshaft is disengaged from said axle, said means for axially displacingsaid drive shaft being responsive to rotation of said drive shaft.

2. The valve as described in claim 1 wherein said means for axiallydisplacing said drive shaft comprises a cam member carried on said driveshaft in generally transverse relationship, said member having agenerally planar surface thereof within a plane at an oblique angle withrespect to the axis of said drive shaft, said generally planar surfacehaving a first point and a second point in axially and radially spacedrelationship, said first point being further from said first end of saidshaft than said second point measured in an axial direction.

3. A valve as described in claim 2 wherein said means for axiallydisplacing said drive shaft further includes standoff means supported bythe valve housing and being selectively alignable with and between saidfirst point on said planar surface of said cam member and said valvehousing and also selectively alignable with and between said secondpoint on said planar surface of said cam member and said valve housing,said standoff means when positioned against said first point urging saiddrive shaft into said first position wherein said first end of saiddrive shaft is in driving engagement with said axle.

4. The valve as described in claim 3 wherein said standoff meanscomprises a disc rotatably carried on said drive shaft, said disc havingone face thereof abutting said valve housing and the opposite facethereof having an upstanding portion engaging said planar face of saidcam member, and further including means for biasing said drive shaftaxially toward said upstanding portion engaging said planar face of saidcam member to provide positive engagement between said planar surfaceand said upstanding portion engaging said planar face of said cammember.

5. A valve as described in claim 4 wherein said upstanding portionengaging said planar face of said cam member includes a ball rotatablycarried for rolling engagement with said planar surface.

6. The valve as described in claim 5 wherein detent means are providedto restrain the rotational movement of said disc about said drive shaft,said detent means comprising a plurality of depressions disposed atangular intervals about the circumference of said disc and a springloaded ball carried by said housing selectively alignable with each ofsaid depressions and said ball being biased toward one of saiddepressions, said cam member being provided with an upstanding stop onsaid planar surface positioned for engagement with said upstandingportion engaging said planar face of said cam member upon angularindexing of said drive shaft.

7. The valve as described in claim 6 further including a double actingpiston and cylinder means, said cylinder having first and second fluidconnection ports in fluid communication with opposite sides of saidpiston, said valve also including a pressure equalization valveconnected to said first .and second fluid connection ports, means foropening said pressure equalization valve when said drive shaft is insaid first position whereby pressure is equalized across said piston andno net forces are imposed on said axle thereby.

1. In a valve having a housing having a flow passage therethrough and aflow restricting member mounted on a pivotally mounted axle forselective movement between flow obstructing and flow passing positions,the improvement which includes: a. a drive shaft carried by the housingfor rotation and axial movement and having means for engaging anddriving the axle at a first end of said drive shaft; b. means forrotating said drive shaft at a second end of said drive shaft; and c.means for selectively engaging and disengaging said drive shaft fromdriving engagement with said axle comprising means for axiallydisplacing said drive shaft from a first position where said drive shaftengAges said axle to a second position where said drive shaft isdisengaged from said axle, said means for axially displacing said driveshaft being responsive to rotation of said drive shaft.
 2. The valve asdescribed in claim 1 wherein said means for axially displacing saiddrive shaft comprises a cam member carried on said drive shaft ingenerally transverse relationship, said member having a generally planarsurface thereof within a plane at an oblique angle with respect to theaxis of said drive shaft, said generally planar surface having a firstpoint and a second point in axially and radially spaced relationship,said first point being further from said first end of said shaft thansaid second point measured in an axial direction.
 3. A valve asdescribed in claim 2 wherein said means for axially displacing saiddrive shaft further includes standoff means supported by the valvehousing and being selectively alignable with and between said firstpoint on said planar surface of said cam member and said valve housingand also selectively alignable with and between said second point onsaid planar surface of said cam member and said valve housing, saidstandoff means when positioned against said first point urging saiddrive shaft into said first position wherein said first end of saiddrive shaft is in driving engagement with said axle.
 4. The valve asdescribed in claim 3 wherein said standoff means comprises a discrotatably carried on said drive shaft, said disc having one face thereofabutting said valve housing and the opposite face thereof having anupstanding portion engaging said planar face of said cam member, andfurther including means for biasing said drive shaft axially toward saidupstanding portion engaging said planar face of said cam member toprovide positive engagement between said planar surface and saidupstanding portion engaging said planar face of said cam member.
 5. Avalve as described in claim 4 wherein said upstanding portion engagingsaid planar face of said cam member includes a ball rotatably carriedfor rolling engagement with said planar surface.
 6. The valve asdescribed in claim 5 wherein detent means are provided to restrain therotational movement of said disc about said drive shaft, said detentmeans comprising a plurality of depressions disposed at angularintervals about the circumference of said disc and a spring loaded ballcarried by said housing selectively alignable with each of saiddepressions and said ball being biased toward one of said depressions,said cam member being provided with an upstanding stop on said planarsurface positioned for engagement with said upstanding portion engagingsaid planar face of said cam member upon angular indexing of said driveshaft.
 7. The valve as described in claim 6 further including a doubleacting piston and cylinder means, said cylinder having first and secondfluid connection ports in fluid communication with opposite sides ofsaid piston, said valve also including a pressure equalization valveconnected to said first and second fluid connection ports, means foropening said pressure equalization valve when said drive shaft is insaid first position whereby pressure is equalized across said piston andno net forces are imposed on said axle thereby.